Despite some hiccups along the way, the Buffalo Sabres were able to earn a massive 5-3 win over the New York Rangers on Wednesday night. The win represents a vitally important result ahead of what could be the biggest night of this stage of the playoff race.
While the Sabres do move into first place in the Atlantic Division with the win, only two points separate them from the Tampa Bay Lightning and Montreal Canadiens. With all three teams in action, the playoff picture could easily, and dramatically, change heading into the final week of the season.
Below is the full schedule for Thursday's NHL action. All of the games impacting the Sabres are highlighted in bold.
Toronto Maple Leafs vs. New York Islanders
Columbus Blue Jackets vs. Buffalo
Florida Panthers vs. Ottawa Senators
Tampa Bay vs. Montreal
Philadelphia Flyers vs. Detroit Red Wings
Pittsburgh Penguins vs. New Jersey Devils
Winnipeg Jets vs. St Louis Blues
Carolina Hurricanes vs. Chicago Blackhawks
Minnesota Wild vs. Dallas Stars
Calgary Flames vs. Colorado Avalanche
Nashville Predators vs. Utah Mammoth
Vegas Golden Knights vs. Seattle Kraken
San Jose Sharks vs. Anaheim Ducks
Vancouver Canucks vs. Los Angeles Kings
How a Sabres win changes the Atlantic Division race
After playing the Rangers on Wednesday, the Sabres' chances to secure home-ice advantage rose to 88%, while their odds of winning the Atlantic Division are at 45%. The Sabres will look to continue boosting those numbers when they return home for a game against the Blue Jackets, who are looking to keep pace with Philadelphia for third in the Metropolitan Division.
A win for the Sabres would allow for them to maintain their two-point gap at the top of the Atlantic Division regardless of what happens elsewhere. It will also keep the Sabres within striking distance of the Hurricanes for the top spot in the Eastern Conference.
The bad news? Buffalo is on a three-game losing streak against the Blue Jackets; their last win against Columbus came on February 4, 2025.
The big out-of-town matchup: Tampa Bay vs. Montreal
The Sabres enter Thursday with a path towards clinching home-ice advantage in the first round as soon as Saturday. With 104 points already in their pocket, Buffalo can reach a maximum of 110 points in the standings; the Sabres have also clinched the regulation wins tiebreaker on the third-place Habs, while possessing a one-win lead on the Lightning in that same category. As a result, Buffalo could clinch home ice on Saturday if they win or if Montreal loses in regulation.
While Buffalo will remain in at least second in the division regardless of who wins in Montreal, a Tampa Bay loss would give the Sabres control of the Atlantic Division. It's also worth noting that the Habs beat the Lightning just over a week ago by a score of 4-1.
With the Metropolitan clinched, the Hurricane watch is in full swing
The Hurricanes' overtime win over the Bruins on Tuesday meant that they would be Metropolitan Division champions for the second year in a row. Not only that, but it guaranteed a top-two seed for the Canes in the final Eastern Conference seeding.
With a two-point edge on the Sabres for the top seed in the conference, the Hurricanes would stretch that to four once again with a win over the Blackhawks. That said, a loss means that the Sabres could take the lead of the Eastern Conference with a win over Columbus; the Sabres have a 40-36 lead in regulation wins and would clinch the tiebreaker with a regulation win over Columbus or any result in the Canes-Hawks game that isn't a Hurricanes win.
The full Buffalo Sabres rooting guide for Thursday, April 9
A Sabres win over the Blue Jackets
Any regulation result in the Habs vs. Bolts game (preferably a Montreal win)
A Blackhawks win over the Hurricanes